For the second time in as many years, Zenyatta came with a dramatic stretch run in the Breeders' Cup Classic, but this time she came up a head short. The mare who had captivated America by compiling an unbeaten 19-race record finally tasted defeat, as Blame lasted out in the face of her withering assault up the straight at Churchill Downs, and shortly afterwards Mike Smith, her jockey, broke down as he accepted the responsibility for the loss.

Just as she did 12 months ago, Zenyatta trailed the field by many lengths as they came past the famous twin spires for the first time. Smith did not begin to make serious ground on the leaders until they were starting to leave the back stretch, and still had many lengths to make up at the top of the home straight. That the pair of them got so close was a testament to Zenyatta's talent and courage, but the mare still had running to give as they crossed the line and was ahead a couple of strides later. Had Smith been a fraction closer earlier in the race, or started his challenge a second or two sooner, she would surely have won.

"She was a little slow out [of the stalls]," Smith said, "and there was a lot of dirt hitting her in the face and she wasn't used to it. Truly, I believe that I was on the best horse and if I had to blame anyone, it would be me.

"She's my everything, she's just amazing. I just wish I would have been in the race a little earlier, because I think the outcome would certainly have been different. She responded really well. Hats off to Blame, I needed him to fold a little bit and he didn't, he hung tough. She made up a whole lot of ground and to only come up a nose short is pretty tough to swallow."

The atmosphere at Churchill Downs was electric as Zenyatta stepped on to the track and reached boiling point as the huge mare pounded down the straight. The sense of disappointment as the massive crowd started to drift away into the Kentucky night was overwhelming.

They were so close to seeing a double for great race mares, as Goldikova, trained in France by Freddy Head, had earlier become the first horse to win three times at the Breeders' Cup when an explosive burst of speed carried her to victory in the Mile.

For the last two seasons, Goldikova has taken the Mile in the heat of Santa Anita, but the switch to the colder climate of Kentucky did not blunt her brilliance. She was caught three wide going into the first turn, before settling in mid-division until the field left the home turn. Then, with a shake of the reins, Olivier Peslier unleashed her finishing kick, and the race was as good as over.

Goldikova's victory was a particular triumph for Head, who rode another brilliant French filly, Miesque, when she became the first horse to win back-to-back races at the Breeders' Cup in the Mile in 1988. That race too was at Churchill Downs.

"I think my English is not good enough and I don't know," he said when asked for his immediate emotions. "I've got so many things coming up to my mind right now. It's something unreal. Even in the worst soap opera you can't imagine something like that, it looks too good to be true. I must be a very, very lucky person.

"I think she has everything an athlete can have. She's got tremendous nerves, she's very cool, has great speed and she can carry that speed for a long time. She can go a mile, or a mile and a quarter, that's what makes her so special and she always has another gear. She changes gear and finishes faster than the others, and she's a real fighter."

Brian Meehan, who took the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs with Red Rocks four years ago, repeated the feat with Dangerous Midge, who started the season in a handicap at Doncaster, following the withdrawal of the Derby winner, Workforce, because of ground concerns, earlier in the day.

Dangerous Midge benefited from a great ride by Frankie Dettori to beat Champ Pegasus by a length and a quarter.